San Francisco, United States | AFP | Apple’s decision to bow to Chinese officials by removing apps to sidestep online censorship underscores the dilemma faced by US tech companies seeking to uphold principles while expanding their business. The iPhone maker is the latest from Silicon Valley to face a conundrum in …
Read More »China scores diplomatic coup in sea row
Manila, Philippines | AFP | China on Sunday scored a diplomatic coup in its campaign to weaken regional resistance against its sweeping claims to the South China Sea when Southeast Asian nations issued a diluted statement on the dispute and agreed to Beijing’s terms on talks. After two days of …
Read More »XI JINPING: China will protect its sovereignty
Beijing, China | AFP | China will fiercely protect its sovereignty against “any people, organisation or political party”, President Xi Jinping warned Tuesday, as the country celebrated the 90th anniversary of its military. The message comes as the ruling Communist Party (CCP) faces political resistance in semi-autonomous Hong Kong, where …
Read More »China opens first overseas base in Africa
Beijing, China | AFP | China has officially opened its first overseas naval base in Djibouti, state media said Tuesday, a major step for the country’s expansion of its military presence abroad. Chinese military personnel, officials and guests attended a flag-raising ceremony and military parade to mark the occasion, the …
Read More »COMMENT: China colonising Africa?
To call China a colonial power is to diminish the true horrors that were faced by the colonised COMMENT|HANNAH RYDER|A few months ago, a New York Times magazine cover was emblazoned with the question “Is China the World’s New Colonial Power?” The notion that China is a twenty-first-century coloniser is …
Read More »Rwanda and China’s rich
Why Jack Ma went to Kenya, Rwanda with 38 Chinese billionaires in tow RWANDA |PEREZ TIGIDAM| Jack Ma, Asia’s richest man and founder of Alibaba Group recently completed a two-day trip to East Africa, visiting Kenya and Rwanda with 38 fellow Chinese billionaires, all no doubt poised with expensive fountain …
Read More »Apple removes some VPN services from Chinese app store
Beijing, China | AFP | Apple has removed software allowing internet users to skirt China’s “Great Firewall” from its app store in the country, the company confirmed Sunday, sparking criticism that it was bowing to Beijing’s tightening web censorship. Chinese internet users have for years sought to get around heavy internet …
Read More »US responds to North Korea missile test with show of force
Washington, United States | AFP | North Korea said Sunday its latest ICBM launch was a “warning” over efforts to slap sanctions on the hermit state, as the US carried out a successful test of its missile defense system in a pointed show of force. A bilateral mission led by …
Read More »Chinese quit Museveni’s refinery deal
US$4bn project fails to get investor again KAMPALA, UGANDA |HAGGAI MATSIKO| President Yoweri Museveni’s oil refinery project has once again suffered a major blow with a major Chinese contractor quitting. As has happened in many major infrastructure deals, frustration over in-fighting, intrigue and lobbying had already taken root with cabinet officials, …
Read More »S. Korea speeds up US missile defence over North’s missile test
Seoul, South Korea | AFP | North Korea’s latest intercontinental ballistic missile test has prompted the South to speed up the deployment of a US missile defence system, Seoul’s defence minister said Saturday, despite strong protests from China. The US military will also roll out “strategic assets” to the South …
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